Malcolm Smith American opera bass Date of Birth: 22.06.1933 Country: USA

1. Biography of Malcolm Smith
2. European Debut and Metropolitan Opera
3. Notable Performances and Recordings
4. Accolades and Repertoire

Biography of Malcolm Smith

Malcolm Smith, an American opera bass and one of the leading opera performers in the United States, was born on June 22, 1933, in Rockville Centre, New York. He studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, Columbia University, and Indiana University.

European Debut and Metropolitan Opera

Smith made his European debut at the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, performing in "Tristan und Isolde." In 1975, he debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in "La Gioconda." He also toured Japan with the Metropolitan Opera and participated in the world premiere of Robert Ward's opera "Abelard and Heloise" at the Charlotte Opera.

Notable Performances and Recordings

Smith's career included performances at renowned opera houses such as La Scala, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Hamburg Opera, Munich Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, Gran Teatro del Liceu, Teatro Real, and Teatro de la Monnaie. He also performed with prestigious orchestras including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Montreal Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, and Wiener Philharmoniker.

Among Smith's notable recordings are George Frideric Handel's "Samson" and Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 8, both conducted by Maurice Abravanel with the Utah Symphony Orchestra. These recordings established Smith as an artist who excelled in both opera and oratorios.

Accolades and Repertoire

In 1996, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf, where Smith had been a leading bass since 1971, awarded him the honorary title of Kammerzinger. The opera "Boris Godunov" was specially staged at this theater for Malcolm Smith.

Some of his other notable roles in his repertoire include Heinrich der Vogler in "Lohengrin," Philippe II and Grand Inquisiteur in "Don Carlos," King Mark in "Tristan und Isolde," Daland in "Der fliegende Holländer," Pimen in "Boris Godunov," Arkel in Debussy's "Pelléas et Mélisande," and Sarastro in "Die Zauberflöte." He also performed in productions of "Tannhäuser," "Das Rheingold," "Der Rosenkavalier," "Siegfried," "Der Freischütz," "Il Barbiere di Siviglia," "Parsifal," and "Aida" in Düsseldorf.